Forcing social media companies to act as law enforcers without due legal process undermines fundamental principles of democracy

STATEMENT

07 Mar 2019

BY INDEX ON CENSORSHIP

Responding to calls from politicians for founder of the far-right English Defense League Tommy Robinson’s videos to be removed from YouTube, Jodie Ginsberg, CEO of Index on Censorship said:

“Tommy Robinson is a vile bigot but this level of government intervention on what is and is not acceptable speech should make us all worried. Investigation into whether something is a crime – and prosecution of it – is what we have an independent police force and judiciary for.

“If Robinson has broken the law (threatening/inciting violence, engaging in intimidatory behaviour) he should be investigated and prosecuted accordingly. We have plenty of laws that can deal with this.

“Politicians should not be leaning on anyone to enforce the law – forcing social media companies to act as law enforcers without any due legal process undermines fundamental principles of democracy.”

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Ivan Vince says:

8 March at 10:56

Re Jodie Ginsberg’s statement: I concur with the sentiment, but worry that the police are stretched to – and in some cases beyond – breaking point. More fundamentally, most of the messages inciting hate crimes are anonymously posted, often from abroad. Should councils turn to the criminal justice system before painting over murals inciting violence?

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